Merchiston Community Council
6 October 2008 
Speaking up for the people of Merchiston  
Welcome to Merchiston Community Council's website

Here you will find information about Merchiston Community Council, who we are, where we are, what we do and how you can have a say in local affairs. We shall also tell you a little about the area.

Merchiston Community Council serves the area bounded by Newbattle Terrace in the south, Whitehouse Loan and Viewforth in the east, Dundee Street and Slateford Road to the north and Gray’s Loan and Cowan Road in the west. Check out our Boundaries page for further details.

We also include a few links to the websites of other organisations and useful contact details to access services in the area. Please have a look around and be in touch. We look forward to meeting with you at the next public meeting



Next Public Meeting

21st October
7:00pm

Polwarth Parish Church
Polwarth Terrace



News

Post Office Closures

There is a Public Consultation on Post Office closures and we have news that at present the Bruntsfield and Dundee street offices are spared the axe, but Shandon post office is down for closure.

Public Meeting -
7:30pm - 23rd September at Craiglockhart Primary School
Coucillor Gorden Buchan has arranged this and is looking for as much local dialogue as possible, and all are welcome to attend to give their views.

Post Office Ltd’s six week public consultation on post office closures in Edinburgh, The Lothians, and South of Scotland, commenced on 19 August 2008. Post Office Ltd has proposed the closure of 26 branches in this wider area, replacing a further 32 branches with Outreach Services. This will leave in place 295 post offices continuing to serve customers in the plan area.

The Post Office will supply information on their Network Change Programme Area Plan Proposal for Edinburgh (quite a mouthful) if you phone Sally Buchan Network Development Manager on 08457223344 or email consultation@postoffice.co.uk

The consultation will end on 29th September 2008 so do let us know what you think once you have read what is proposed. There is great deal more to this than branch closures and does require some time to digest and see the bigger picture of what is proposed.

Postwatch Scotland will be working throughout the consultation period to ensure the exercise is meaningful. They have already delivered their response which can be seen on their website and give pointers to appropriate public comments there too.

Public Meeting - 7:30pm - 9th September at Marchmont St Giles Church

Mike Pringle (MSP)  arranged a public meeting for Tuesday 9th September at 7:30pm at Marchmont St Giles Church, Kilgraston Road. Representatives from Royal Mail were present to answer questions and the Sub Postmaster from Warrender Park Road Post Office - Graham Sorley - agreed to speak about why he believes his business should remain open. Local Councillors and the Marchmont Sciennes Community Council were represented. With a lively group of more than 350 local residents and business users many very relevant questions and points of information were presented to the Post Office representatives who promised to take them away and agreed that some of the points were previously unknown to them.

Although this Post Office is out with our boundary many of our residents and businesses may well make use of it.


More Post Office News ..........

Edinburgh West Delivery Office is Relocating

Currently missed mail can be collected at Russell Road delivery office.

As of
8th September 2008 the new delivery office will be at

Tallents House
21 South Gyle Crescent
Edinburgh
EH12 9PB

Customer reception will be open
Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7:00 to 13:30
Tuesday and Thursday from 7:00 to 13:30
and 17:00 to 20:00
Saturday 7:00 to 11:30

There will still be a late posting facility at Russell Road.
Monday - Friday last collection of post 18:00
Saturday 12:30

Please contact
08457 740 740
for any further information


Change of Green Bin collection Days
As of 12th August many streets in our area have had their collection day changed
Please call
0131 529 3030
for answers to any questions you may have.


Polwarth - Nearly New Sale
Polwarth Parish Church
Saturday 20th September
11:00- 1:00pm
Supporting Sick Kids Hospital
and
Polwarth Church Funds
[See link on Community page]
Scottish Water Mains improvement

Polwarth Terrace Water Mains Improvement

As part of the ongoing upgrade of old mains pipes Starting 25th August 2008 and lasting for approximately 14 weeks. That is well into November. There will be information delivered to those houses affected.

48 hours notice will be given of any shut off of supply.

If you experience low pressure or discoloured water do not use washing machines. Run your cold tap until it runs clear.

There will be the usual disturbance of traffic that goes with major digging up of the roads. We shall be returning to the traffic lights and contraflow we have recently enjoyed. We are assured that it will be for short distances at a time and will be at a minimum inconvenience.

If you have any questions please phone Customer Services on 0845601 8855 quoting 'Polwarth Terrace Improvement'.



Contact us
Please do make contact if there is anything on the site you wish to comment on, or if you have a community event you would like us to advertise or an issue to follow up.